The Washington Capitals and Pittsburgh Penguins have one of the greatest rivalries among all the four major sports. Wednesday’s TV ratings showed that in spades.
According to NBC Sports’ PR, the Caps-Pens game averaged an audience of 718,000 viewers. It’s NBCSN’s most-watched NHL regular-season/non-home-opener game since an April 6, 2016 Flyers-Red Wings game.
The Capitals and Penguins have won the last three Stanley Cups.
Last night's @penguins–@Capitals clash on Wednesday Night Hockey on @NBCSN averaged a Total Audience Delivery of 718,000 viewers, ranking as the network’s most-watched NHL regular-season game since 4/6/16, excluding Opening Night games (PHI-DET; 831,000)
— NBC Sports PR (@NBCSportsPR) December 20, 2018
For those who tuned in early, they saw a violent clash between the two rivals in the first minute. Tom Wilson knocked out Jamie Oleksiak in a fight. Alex Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby would later jaw at the bench, with the Capitals’ captain challenging the Penguins’ captain to drop his gloves.
While there weren’t many goals — the Penguins would go on to win 2-1 — the game was arguably one of the most entertaining 60-minute contests of the season. The Capitals had several glorious chance to tie after pulling goaltender Braden Holtby with two minutes remaining.
Friday’s Caps-Sabres game will also be on national television.
NHL on NBCSN: Capitals, Sabres look to rebound following defeats https://t.co/IP1AYw4MIj
— NHL on NBC (@NHLonNBCSports) December 21, 2018
